Setting a Realistic Expectation for AC Milan's 2014/15 Serie A Campaign

After not reaching any European competitions for the first time since the turn of the century, Milan go into the 2014/15 Serie A campaign knowing that they must get back into the most fabled competition in world football.

Simply put, the cliche about the Champions League being part of DNA rings slightly true. The club have amassed seven trophies, with only Real Madrid being able to put up a better tally after winning their 10th last season.

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A Champions League without the red and black kit in it doesn't quite feel so complete, so vice-president Adriano Galliani and company had to work this summer to correct the fatal flaws surrounding the club and give them a captain to steer the ship forward.

The captain came in the form of Filippo Inzaghi, the ex-Milan legendary striker who knows what it means to lift the most important trophy of them all.

Since taking over, Inzaghi's Milan have posted the best offensive numbers in Serie A. 16 goals so far, with Roma and Juventus trailing with 14 strikes apiece. The problem is that the defense hasn't been as good, allowing gaps wider than the Panama Canal and basically turning most matches into frenetic shootouts.

So, what is the realistic expectation for this highly entertaining, incredibly unbalanced club that still has glaring weaknesses in the starting XI?

For starters, the Scudetto isn't totally out of the question.

While Roma and Juventus are superior sides and will go toe-to-toe for the domestic crown until the final matchday, Milan won't be bogged down by any European competitions and could focus solely on the Serie A campaign. During the campaign, the Coppa Italia could be used as a way of getting some of the youngsters, such as Riccardo Saponara or M'Baye Niang, much-needed playing time.

The Coppa Italia could actually be an interesting proposition for Milan, as the winner is given a place in the Europa League for the following season. In most cases, Milan could still be granted the Europa League position if they were to lose the final, under the circumstance that the winner was already in a European position in Serie A. 

Let's go back to the Scudetto race for a moment. Expecting Milan to challenge for it could lead to some massive disappointment. The most realistic expectation would be gunning for that third spot in the table, which is good for an entrance to the Champions League qualification stages.

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This is a very realistic proposition. Milan have the weapons up front to score in bunches, and the defense will only get better once Inzaghi chooses a starting pair and they start building confidence together.

Alex has been a step in the right direction, and he has a wealth of experience to anchor that unit and finally keep clean sheets on a consistent basis.

In the end, expect Milan to make a serious push for the Coppa Italia, a competition that some of the top teams that already have European duties won't take seriously, while also trying to retain a top three spot in the table.

Needless to say, European action is on the horizon for the Rossoneri, and the team will reinforce itself in the January transfer window to make that push a probability rather than a doubt.